Meeting of Hemp Millers. At Raglan.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 30 May 1890, Page 2

Meeting of Hemp Millers. At Raglan.

A well attended meeting of flaxmi'lers was held at the County Council Chambers, on Saturday last. Tli ere wore present ; Meaers W. H. Wallis, Hall, E. Wallia, Bregmen, La Troke, Orminston, Burton, and others. Mr E. Langley was voted to 'the chair. He explained that the meeting had been called with the object of starting i a flax-millers' Association. He referred to the unsteadiness of the market, its harrusiag fluctuations— the same class of fibre in a few months ranging from £25 to £16 or £17 a ton. There was no well defined line between best Auckland and good medium, yet one waa quoted at £22 to £28, and the other £16 or £16 10s ; an inflated market often made good mediuiu rank as best Auckland, while in a low market best ' Auckland would be classified as good medium, tie th»n referred at some length to manila, and sisal fibres and Baid large syndicates and capitalists had the trade well worked and looked after, that they put these fibres in the best possible way, even in quality, condition, and colour, so that manufacturers could almost buy them with their eyes shut. How would a manufacturer fare who bought flax in that way ? He would ask them to consider how other staple pioducts were being put on the market. In America wheat was graded, so that a miller was able to buy just what he wanted to suit bis trade, and could therefore give the best price for it. Wool they knew was i arefully classified or low prices would result. He showed how the kauri gum trade hud been benefited in consequence of classification of the gum. Flax, he thought, was harder to classify strictly than either wheat, or wool, or gum; it should not be left to iudividua millers to do. tbey could not do it except in a loosa way. He then showed the great necessity for strict classification. The letters came from all parts of the States— from Now York to San Francisco, Cliicago to New Orleans— yet though they came from cities so far apart, one might be excused for thinking that they were written by the same hand. ( )ne statement was constantly rei- ! terated, they »11 said in effect, that tlie paroles of-flax as it reached them were irregular in quality, cleanliness and colour, some good, some bad, (he great majority bad, and showed careless or unskilful manipulation One writer referred to a parcel as opening up liks a bale of cowtails — the who'e of which tended to one point, that if N*w Zealand millers wanted to compete with manila or sisal, or even get a footing on the American market, all that must be altered, th« parcels must be properly graded, and the flax better niani. pirated. Several writers express iiemselvas as wil ing to <lo business if tliH were done. Morrisou and Co., fibre brokers, of London, had retired entirely from the flax trade, and turned their attention to other fibres. They give as their reason the unsatisfactory way parcles reached them. AMr Woods, well k-iow in the trade in London, late y visiting here, said that English manufacturers do not give from £5 to £6 per ton of what they could and vvuuld willingly give if the flax readied them with a guarantee of quality upon it. They should remember that there was was a legi timite detraud for large quantities of low quality flax »t a price ag well as for best, but. from the unfor tunate way that flax was now sent to the market — good and l>ad a 1 mixed iudiscrimately — the low prica r.iles for, all, the whole trade lauguishes, buyer and seller bei.i<r alike disho irtentd. He thought if the Auckland millers associated themselves together they might change this. They should, however, invite the Wellington millers to join|them -or rather form another similar a sociation. The association should be careful to obtain a good capable businees mun to manage and conduct its business ; and "Iso tbat th-i exports engaged in clns« : fyin«» tbe fl ix «li uld >»c thoroughly up to their w rlt. A boarJ of directors, coin osf'd of flax-nv.'lers, should b • appointed to work and advise with the manager. The busin -88 of tbe asso -iatio i woul 1 be to act as ngent< or hrokers ; to receive all flax, classify it and either sell it local y or abroad, or export for sale on accoiiut of thn miller*, to introduce

the association's flax to nil market* cud try to find fresh ones, aud generally advertise themselves aud push the trade. There were other ways an association like this could help millers, but he would only refer now ito its acting as agents or brokers. If one miller aent five tons, and another fire tons, and bo on, it would be classified, and the consignee would be credited with five tons of a certain grade ; private brands would be branded with the association brand, and the grade and particulars of quality clearly shown upon it The brokerage on flax was 2£ per cent on the gross amount realised. If all flax sold and shipped through Auckland pa»sed through this association it would mean an income of three or four thousand pounds a year. They muat not expect that just yet. He> believed however, if only a few millers could agree together to sell their flax in this way, they would as they became known, &et poundi more per ton than individuals out* side the association. The associa-

tion could through the banks, arrange for any reasonable advances on flax held by them for sale, so that remittances could be made if desired almost immediately on receipt of a consignment. This association appeared no doubt to many of them ft large undertaking, l>ut if the millers were united, they woufd'find no insuperable difficulties. :In forming this association they naturally must look for some opposition, but he was confident it was a step in the right direction. « He " fcacl discussed the matter with some of the best business men in Auckland and they a'so were of that opinion. He believed something like this m.ist be done and done quick'y, if they did not want to close their mills. Flax properly put on the market would yet command a good price and he [ confidently looked to this associatoi n if started, to make the trade a pay. ing and permanent one. It was a matier of great importance, . and he aaked them to give it careful consideration. Not on'y were the millers affected, but hundreds and thousands of people were directly interested in the trade aud. receiving benefit from it. It was moved by Mr Hall, seconded by Mr Bregham that in the opinion of this meeting an a sociation similar to the one referred to by Mr Langley, was very desirable, and that a deputation from this meeting attend a meeting to be called at Ngaiuawphia. and there confer with the Waikato mil lers with a view of taking united ac-" tion Mr W. H., Wallis in speaking on the subject, stated. From information received from a frieud who had receutly paid a visit to England tbat the useis of New Zealand flax had stated to him that there was not much fear of the fibre keeping at a low figure if only a reliable article was constantly placed upon the mar ket, and that the only reason wwhsy s they at all preferred small bale was that perhaps it wag easier to de' tect bad workmanship in them ; otherwise it made no difference between large and small bales when placed upon the market Tbe re* suit of the meeting to be held of flax* millers in Waikato is to be placed be • fore a future meeting of the Raglan flax millars to be held here.— Wai: kato Times.